Elizabeth Loftus is an amazing woman. She is ranked among the top 100 psychologists of the 20th century (APA website, none). She has written 19 books, her list of articles fill more than 17 pages of her professional biography on the University of Irvine's website, and she is "one of the 25 psychologists most often cited in psychology textbooks" (Wilson, none). Elizabeth Loftus has contributed greatly to the field of psychology, most notably in the field of memory. Loved and hated for her work in the courtroom, she has been called as an expert witness in over 200 trials, most often for the defense. In the April 2002 issue of the Review of General Psychology, Loftus was listed among the top 100 psychologists of the 20th century. The list included many well-known psychologists, such B.F.Skinner; Piaget, Freud, Maslow, Pavlov, James, and Bowlby. At number 58, Elizabeth Loftus was the highest ranked woman on the list. The list was compiled by a group of researchers using several variables: how often the individual was cited in journals and psychology textbooks, survey responses from over 1,700 psychologists and whether or not the individual was a member of the National Academy of Sciences or had served as an APA president or received the APA Distinguished Scientific Contributions Award (APA website, none). In 2003, she was the recipient of the Award for Distinguished Scientific Applications of Psychology for her research contributions to our understanding of eyewitness memory and her contributions to cognitive and social psychology and psychology and law. From 1984-1985, she served as president APA Division 41, American Psychology-Law Society. Although she has achieved a great deal and has earned respect and admiration of many, she probably has as many critics as she does supporters. For someone beginning college with the goal of being a math teacher, Loftus has reached a significant level of achievement.
             Born Elizabeth Fishman in 1944 ...